Olafur Asgeirsson served his nation from his home in The Woodlands without compensation.

Olafur Asgeirsson served his nation from his home in The Woodlands without compensation.

Photo: FAMILY PHOTO

Photo: FAMILY PHOTO

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Olafur Asgeirsson served his nation from his home in The Woodlands without compensation.

Olafur Asgeirsson served his nation from his home in The Woodlands without compensation.

Photo: FAMILY PHOTO

Olafur Asgeirsson, aided Icelanders in Houston area

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OLAFUR "Olaf" Asgeirsson, who for more than 15 years served as honorary consul of Iceland in Texas, has died. He was 77.

Performing his consular duties from his home in The Woodlands, Asgeirsson processed passports, dealt with trade and commercial interests and promoted tourism, said his daughter, Gudrun Olafsdottir, of Los Angeles.

"We are very grateful for his services, which he performed without pay," said Finnur Dirigsson, first secretary of the Embassy of Iceland in Washington. "He was active right up to the end" of his life, Dirigsson said.

In the Houston area, Icelandic nationals called on Asgeirsson to renew their passports, his daughter said.

His talent in languages — he spoke seven fluently — added to his enjoyment of the many social functions associated with the diplomatic world, Olafsdottir said.

New opportunities

Asgeirsson, his wife,
Gudrun Ottosdottir
and their children came to the United States from Iceland in 1967.

Before settling in the Houston area, they lived in California, Ohio and New York.

"My parents came to Texas in 1975 because of the warm weather and the opportunities," Olafsdottir said.